— “ Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage – to move in the opposite direction.“ (E.F.Schumacher, Economist, Source)

In 1835 as tensions were coming to a head between the residents of Texas and the central Mexican government ruled by Santa Anna, the Mexican army was ordered to remove a canon that had been given to the settlers of Gonzales to protect them from Indian attacks.

When the settlers got word, they took a wedding dress, made it into a flag and added the likeness of the star and cannon with the phrase "come and take it" underneath.

There was a small battle, and the Mexicans withdrew back to San Antonio, without the canon. The flag was later carried by reinforcements sent to the Alamo. I've read that it resides at the Perkins Library at Duke, but I've also heard that the original was captured at the Alamo and taken back to Mexico as a trophy. Not sure which is true.

It's a picture of Aya from the upcoming (when? when?!?) animated series called Illuminated. Guess where my avatar comes from.

— "Mystery is important. To know everything, to know the whole truth, is dull. There is no magic in that. Magic is not knowing, magic is wondering about what and how and where." ~ Cortez, from The Longest Journey